Chief Operating Officer

Position Status: Regular, Full Time, Exempt

The Tulsa Flyer is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee strategic and administrative functions including fiscal management, strategic planning, organizational systems and human resources for an independent, community-centered, nonprofit news startup.

The COO will oversee the Director of People & Operations and external financial management, compliance and legal resources to collaborate with the CEO to operate the organization. They will design and oversee the initiative’s operations, working across teams to build the organizational strategy and a culture of excellence to achieve those goals.

The ideal candidate will be a self-starter and an experienced leader, with demonstrated analytical skills, an understanding of the complex issues facing startups and nonprofits, and the ability to develop the strong operational systems necessary for this organization of diverse, talented individuals to thrive.

This role is based in our downtown Tulsa office and is expected to work in person on a regular basis.

The Tulsa Flyer is a startup nonprofit organization that has raised $14 million so far in service of a vision to give everyone in Tulsa the local news they need to live more informed and more connected lives. The newsroom produces high-quality journalism while engaging with residents to produce and distribute reporting, employing an innovative model for local journalism that is directly responsive to local information needs.

In addition to a team of editors and beat reporters, the Tulsa newsroom has best-in-class community engagement expertise, multimedia production, dedicated capacity for service journalism and research, and a program that trains citizens as government watchdogs called the Tulsa Documenters.

At the Tulsa Flyer, we value learning, curiosity and diverse perspectives. We are dedicated to equitable hiring and follow best practices to create an inclusive hiring process.

Reporting to the CEO, the COO will collaborate with the senior leadership team and Board to guide Tulsa Flyer’s strategic planning, finance, human resources and operations processes in service of our mission to build and grow a mission-oriented, sustainable organization. The COO will have one direct report to start, in addition to support from a fractional CFO to lead all financial, administrative, and people operations of Tulsa Flyer, and will have the following responsibilities:

• Coordinate between the CEO, senior leadership team, and Board in the oversight and execution of Tulsa Flyer’s strategic planning, finance and operations, including development of a holistic approach to setting strategy, goals and KPIs across the organization that speak directly to the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
• Provide strategic financial input and leadership on decisions affecting the organization, such as evaluation of potential partnerships and providing solutions for organizational challenges; act as a key thought partner to the CEO.
• Manage the work of the outsourced financial management/accounting firm including monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting, annual audit process, investment and cash management strategy, and other key financial management processes.
• Develop a system to monitor progress to goals across teams, proactively identify any areas that may be in need of course correction, and work with organization leaders to develop solutions.
• Oversee the People & Operations Director in management of all human resource, culture, infrastructure, security, and other internal administrative functions.
• Partner with external legal counsel to ensure all processes and procedures are compliant with federal and state laws.
• Support the CEO in preparation for regular Board meetings and present financial reports to the Board of Directors.
• Lead the development of annual budgets, regular forecasting, and multi-year projections.
• Working with the CEO, and with assistance from a fractional CFO, develop and oversee financial strategy and planning for the expanding organization that furthers Tulsa Flyer’s mission to serve its constituencies with authentic, representative, quality local news.
• Lead the preparation of timely and accurate financial reporting and analysis (including income statement, budget-to-actuals, balance sheet, and cash flow projections) to build the financial literacy of the team and help colleagues employ financial data to support sound…